GST carve-up best left independent: Labor

OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten is happy to leave the process of carving up GST among the states with the independent Commonwealth Grants Commission.

The commission released its latest recommendations for the 2014/15 financial year on Friday, which saw Western Australia as the only jurisdictions that would get less GST revenue in 2014/15 compared with the previous financial year.

Addressing reporters in Perth, where he is drumming up support for this Saturday's WA Senate election re-run, Mr Shorten said he supports an independent process.

"I believe when you get something as complex and vexed in who should get what, you are better having that process being done at arm's length," he said.

The nation's treasurers at a meeting on Friday failed to resolve the long-running saga over GST on low-value foreign goods, which has remained at a $1000 threshold since its introduction in 2000.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said his counterparts had gone away to have another look at lowering the threshold but he wanted to bring this issue to a head this year.

Mr Shorten said there are competing pressures around this issue.

He said small businesses in the high street are feeling pressure from people being able to go online and buy their items cheaper.

"But of course you have to balance against that (that) you have got consumers who are able to beat cost of living pressures by being able to secure the best deals possible," he said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott was equally non-committal about changes to how the GST is carved up.

He said the GST was a tax that went to the states, and as such it was up to all of the states to collectively make any changes.

"I'm not going to make any change. I'm not aware the states have a collective position on this," he told reporters in Perth.